THIS MAY HURT A BIT UK Tour to be Performed in Parliament, Guys Hospital

This May Hurt A Bit, Stella Feehily's new play set in and around the NHS, is to take time out of its regular touring venues for a week of special intimate "radio-play" style performances in non-theatre venues. These include the Palace of Westminster; Guys Hospital Tower (presented by Kings College Institute); and the Old Operating Theatre Museum.

Taking a break from technical rehearsals of the play, which begins its tour on Thursday 6 March in Bury St Edmunds, director Max Stafford-Clark said,

"It is sometimes good to take a show out of theatres. We had originally intended to play a full week of performances in hospitals, but on several occasions we were told that the play was too politically controversial for an NHS Hospital Trust to host.."

The performance in Parliament will be hosted by Lord Kinnock, who advised Feehily and the company on NHS founder Aneurin Bevan - and played him in an early workshop version of the play.

This May Hurt A Bit is a co-production from Out of Joint and Octagon Theatre Bolton. Following a tour, it will play at London's St James Theatre from 14 May. The cast includes Stephanie Cole, much-loved for her television roles including Waiting for God, Open All Hours, Doc Martin, Tenko and most recently Coronation Street.

The full list includes:

Monday 17 March, Eastwell Manor
Tuesday 18 March, Houses of Parliament
Wednesday 19 March, Old Operating Theatre
Thursday 20 March, King's College Institute at Guys Tower Wing, Guys Hospital
Friday 21 March, Old Operating Theatre
Saturday 22 March, Hospital Club, Covent Garden.